Writing is sort of putting a puzzle together halfway. Then, performing it has always been the completion of it. Once that happens, I’m feeling verbally communal with other people. It’s out there and I feel so much better about it.
Cousins are forever and forever are cousins they stand by your side for you no matter what.
There’s a lot of really inspiring music coming around the bend – we tend to believe that to sound classic or timeless is to sound vintage or retro. It’s a little bit dangerous, because you’ll really miss a chance to make your mark as a generation.
I’d love to claim the title of ‘songwriter’ or ‘intellectual,’ but the truth is that anything that I ever learned how to do in conjunction with music was purely so that I would have a platform to sing from.
I have vocal trouble from time to time associated with sleep or wine! Or from sleeping in a bunk the size of a coffin and breathing in bus air conditioning all day.
I feel like the kindest thing that I do to my voice is sing.
If I learned to play guitar it was so that I would have something to sing to, if I learned to write a song it was so that I would have something to sing. So the gut feeling you’re talking about comes from singing and communicating the lyrics and what it is that we feel.
People sing each other’s songs and they cultivate standards. That’s the reason why we have folk music and folk stories. History is told through song.
I used to turn to nature and animals a lot. And fishing. I spend time still with my Bible and the gospel music, and I still have to feed the animals! But my wife and daughter have brought me a world of perspective when I’m feeling just a little “extra important.”
You can’t change people, but most importantly, unless you’re their momma, you don’t even know what’s best for them.
I feel like a lot of the singer-songwriters in my genre and in my generation have gotten more and more snooty about covering other people’s songs. They believe that creativity is the intersect of expression.
With these words I have healed deep wounds and feelings of inadequacy within myself. If you get this far... if you’re still reading this: Write your life. No matter how young or old. Even if you feel like you’re not interesting enough. Do it. Believe me you are. Your life is in fact twisted and beautiful and you’ll find that as you peel back the layers, the unexpected side effect is that it feels wonderful to be know. Even if it’s just by you.
Write your life. No matter how young or old, even if you feel like you’re not interesting enough, do it. Believe me, you are. Your life is in fact twisted, and beautiful. And you’ll find that as you peel back the layers, the unexpected side effect is that it feels wonderful to beknown, even if it’s just by you.
You don’t have to be famous to be a hero, anyone can do that. I’ll never be my heroes, but I’ll always have ’em.
People in this country who are in positions of privilege must learn to find ways of fighting for the just treatment of others, not by centering and platforming themselves, but by holding up the ones who are suffering.
I understand who I am as an artist because I understand that I don’t understand who I am as an artist.
A persons self-worth is dictated by what inalienable rights are allowed to them.
When Dolly Parton prayed over me, I believed in God again. Every part of my soul came crashing to the earth like it was riding on lightning. I became connected to it again. I remembered that I was just a tiny part of that day and that little moment in time. Most important, that I was in fact responsible for none of it. Good, bad, or indifferent. The prayer is just between me and Dolly. But it was life-affirming and I like to think Dolly prays for all of us like that.
There’s no telling when the ride’s gonna stop and you’ll have to go get back in line. It’s the way it’s supposed to be. Ebbs and flows; sometimes you’re first and sometimes you’re last. You meet the exact same people on the way up that you do on the way down, so be prepared for anyone to be your future boss. All these things are true.
People in this country who are in positions of privilege must learn to find ways of fighting for the just treatment of others not by centering and platforming themselves but by holding up the ones who are suffering. It’s not about shame or repentance, it’s about understanding that Dr. King still gets the bullhorn while many of us must organize, galvanize voters, peacefully protest, teach our children, plead with our parents, pray, resist, and amplify.
If you find me in my work, I haven’t done my job. If you find yourself, then I’m an artist.